Kaitlyn Kirby Davis

Kate was a beautiful, talented, and wonderful daughter, sister, and friend. We grieve her loss with heavy hearts as she has left us too soon. We will forever have her in our hearts and minds and in those moments of “she would love this…”

Kate loved many things, her art, music, books, sodas with a straw, puzzles late into the night, scary movies, cozy weather, her niece and nephew, and her many pets through life but the love of her life was Shadow. Kate was an artist at heart from a young age. She was in art galleries in elementary school and continued experimenting with all forms of art for years. We treasure all her artwork that she has left for us.

She was so funny, she would always say she was the funniest person she knew, and we would laugh and laugh and she would say, See! She was so beautiful in life, and you can see it in the many pictures of her she has modeled over the years and the many of her friends would take.

One of her other great loves was of music that she loved to share for people calling herself the family DJ. She had many playlists for her life and we get to explore that as a reminder of her. She even made playlists for her niece and nephew in the hopes they would grow up understanding what good music is and was. She was very eclectic so it was a joy to hear what she would put on for us next.

One of the great joys was watching her niece and nephew just adore her every time their Aunt Kay Kay was near. We will miss her art lessons with her playlist in the background and a soda with a straw nearby. We are thankful for the memories we have of her being silly and fun.

She was a wonderful sister, always there for the moments that count, the unbreakable bonds of sisters. There are no words for how much she will be missed.

She was above all a wonderful daughter, in the best way she could be, with unconditional love for her mom. It is more than a loss of a daughter but a loss of a friend and companion. The pain will always be there but there is hope in new memories with keeping Kate-Kaitlyn in our hearts.

She hated the name Kaitlyn and later to be called Katie, we would sing to her constantly until she made us stop: K-K-K-Katie, Beautiful Katie, you’re the only G-G-G Girl that I adore! When the M-M-M Moon shines over the C-C-C Cow shed, I’ll be waiting by the K-K-K Kitchen door.

Kate leaves behind her mom Patti Benavides, her stepfather Mark Benavides, Sister and Brother-in-law Nicole Eikerts and Jonathan Eikerts, niece and nephew Jackie and Jon Eikerts, and her beloved dog Shadow.

Heavy Things

No one wakes up one day and asks for hard times

They don't ask for the weight to bare just to pretend it's all alright

No one wakes up with feet ablaze feeling satisfied they're on fire

The pain alone can make anyone a liar

Only the few can stand what agony brings

It’s the chosen few who carry the heavy things

Numb the pain to allow for rest

Wake up feeling savagely depressed

The antidote is at the end of a rope

For some who have too hard a war to cope

The rest of us are pieces of a looking glass

With the only focus strictly on the past.

Those left behind rise to the bell when it rings

We’re the ones who are left to carry the heavy things

Empty chairs, pictures, and memories

We’re the keepers of heartbreak history

Another light darkened; another fire burnt out

Another recovery spoiled by fear and doubt

Despite all the dimly lit rescue lights

All the reasons to give up the fights

For all those we love lost along the way

For all those who chose to leave and not stay

To the bottle, the cancer, the addictions, and age

To the ones in the middle struggling to turn the page

A message of faith before you feel it's too much

Open your world to the ones that you love

Let that love fill you and guide you sing

~God please have mercy on those carrying the heavy things.~

Poem written by Zak Thurman